Hi lovely ladies. So after paperwork panic last week the nurse called to say all ok on Monday so I finished my down-regging drugs on Wednesday as planned and am now just waiting for flo to arrive. Spent life savings & picked up a HUGE bag of drugs this morning so all ready to start injections next wed, all being well. I'm feeling excited and nervous now. Please let this work, please let this work.... 🙏🏻

11 Replies

Hi CheshireKat. Oh I do hope so. Do get yourself properly acquainted with your bag full of drugs over the weekend, so you understand them all. If injections get a bit sore, try putting an ice cube on the spot for 10-15 mins before injecting - numbs the area! Thinking of you. Diane

Hi Cheshirekit 😊 Glad your back on course. I finished mine on wed too, with next wed being my first scan date, just worried i'm going to come on earlier than sunday as think this would the effect my scan. Just waiting for a call back to discuss this. Hope you feel better now. No nightmares for me last night! But feel bloated and have had to even take my rings off! Good luck for the coming week xx

Hi CheshireKit, yes I heard back, basically your scan date can change if you don't get your period prior to the scan date, as they want the womb lining to have shed before doing the scan, so if period doesn't show then the date would change. Last month they considered putting me on the short protocol, however because my period naturally started on the sat they said it was too early as the scans can only be done wed-fri, so I got confused with what happens with the short protocol and the long protocol! hope that all makes sense xx

Hi hun best of luck, is this your first round? I'm also starting my stims on weds (on short protocol), and on my 2nd cycle. It's nice to have someone else going through it all at the same stage if that makes sense. Have finished my pill and am waiting for AF... scan on tues to confirm I can start weds. Each stage feels like a huge hurdle but once you've started stimming it all happens quickly. Best of luck xx

Thanks Kat9lives. It really helps to go through the process with others. It's my first IVF cycle after trying naturally for 3 years and MC last year, it's all so new and I'm learning so much! I've no idea if I'm on the short or long protocol! I took down-regging tabs for 11 days finishing this wed, just waiting for flo & having scan next wed to confirm if I can start stimming. Best of luck to you too! Sprinkling baby dust for us all ☘😉 xx

I'm not 100% but it sounds like you're possibly on long protocol. As far as I understand it it means you have a long period of stimulation and preparing your body before that but ultimately when it comes to the collection of eggs etc it is all the same. Have you had a consultation mtg with your clinic to explain what is going to happen? Once your period comes and your womb lining basically goes thin then you start "stimulating" your ovaries to make lots of follicles (using injections). Each follicle can contain 1 egg but not always. I'm not sure on long protocol but short protocol the "stims" (stimulation jabs) can last up to 2 weeks with a scan at your clinic every so often to check progress. All scans are normally internal (a painfree probe that goes in your vagina and creates an ultrasound type pic of the screen) so they can see how many follicles are growing in your ovaries and how thick your womb lining is getting. Sorry if I'm telling you things you already know... it depends on each clinic but they will then decide whether to up or reduce your stims and when your egg collection date or EC will be. The eggs are then fertilised with the sperm... Either "naturally" in a petri dish (IVF) or they take 1 sperm and inject it directly into your egg (ICSI IVF). You'll get a call telling you how many have fertilised the day after your EC and then you have to wait for them to let you know if you will have a 3 day old embryo or a 5 day old embryo (or a blastocyst) transferred back. This is all based on how they think they look, whether there is one clear "contender" or whether they need a little longer to decide which looks strongest. Your ET or egg transfer will then happen 3 or 5 days after your EC. Then you have the dreaded 2ww or two week wait to fret and drive yourself loopy noticing all sorts of symptoms that could be from being pregnant or from the progesterone pessaries you're given. Your OTD or official test date will be between 10 and 14 days after your ET and the depending on your clinic you'll either get a blood test or just take a pregnancy test. Then it will be a BFN (Big fat blooming negative) or the amazing BFP (POSITIVE) that we all long for! There are a few good books on ivf out there (theres a list on my profile and a list of acronyms as there's a lot used!)